This comment may be appreciated or not, but, I find (for myself) that taking Thanksgiving dinners and birthday cakes and pies and (often disasterous) dinners to

This comment may be appreciated or not, but, I find (for myself) that taking Thanksgiving dinners and birthday cakes and pies and (often disasterous) dinners to "old folks homes" to be good for me. I get to meet some people outside of my realm. That also appreciate me. That want to talk. Not about engineering stuff. Just show up with a pie and a smile - and ... you realize that: 1) everything isn't so bad, 2) we're all going to be here (perspective), and 3) they know more about life than you do. Give it a try. I've been doing it for 20 years. After my girlfriend at the time ended up a paraplegic from an accident, she ended up in rehab at one of these places. Other than her brain, she got better and left. I keep going back. YMMV. EDIT: My point is-- you aren't the only lonely person out there. Sometimes you have to take the first step to make a friend. Even outside of your realm of experience.